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I will attach a few links to similar mount threads I did on the big game forums for those that are interested.

Razza's Taxidermy Studio just east of Pittsburgh

Bowsite Sponsor.

Guys check out Dennis' work. Just amazing stuff. You'll see why I took my deer/bear to him.

Dennis brings some of his mounts to the Sheep show every year. You guys should come and visit next year.

Bill V.

Check out that mountain goat by Dennis. And the stone sheep?? OMG

One other thing....you'll have to send me your address so I can send you an EAGLES shirt so you don't have to wear that awful Steelers one!! lol just messin.

I am a little disappointed, however, as I thought this was going to be a thread about Dale releasing a new solo album. ;^)

You gotta see that stone sheep to believe how pretty they are, And the goat is incredible!

Bill v

I'm really looking forward to this build along! So when do we get the first peek? ;-)

Paarcher1, Dale is correct. I get a lot of work shipped in from all over the place. From Pa the cost would be very minimal and easy to ship. About 60% of my work comes from out of state. It probably would be best to ship as you might not be allowed in the studio with an eagles shirt!LOL.

I'll try to make time this week for the thread.

Thanks Dennis

I've really enjoyed the "bow build follow along" threads that RC has posted in the past, but what makes this thread special to me is that my wife, Mary Ann has enjoyed seeing Dennis's photos even more than me. She has spent hours looking at all of the pictures and what really put a smile on my face was when she said "from now on, when I we go to Cabelas or Bass Pro, I'll know how much work and artistic ability goes into those mounts."

Thanks Dennis...you've given Mary Ann and I a whole new appreciation of the world of taxidermy.

One thing apparent to me is that Dennis' mounts are better than what I see, live in the wild. How perfect each animal is... from nature is amazing. Dennis takes the time to bring it all out for his customers.

I'm not a trophy hunter per se, certainly have nothing against it, but I'm a bit particular about what I take. I will probably be a bit more particular now.

The deer/bear aren't "trophies" in MY heart, the memories and pictures are. The group picture will be reproduced and hanging on my wall- it means that much to us.

I had a friend walk into my den once- she saw my 13" 8 pt. mount(1st bow kill), my several antler mounts along with a couple euro mounts. She said "Oh this is your Trophy room!" I mentioned that it isn't a trophy room. Simply put its my den.

We could in no way ever see that bear in a rug form. Neither MJ nor myself felt the rug would do the bear and its beauty, justice. Not that a rug is wrong- just not for this bear.

I asked Dennis to post a mount along and I thank him for complying! When it starts you will truly enjoy the thread.

For a once in a lifetime mount- this is the guy to do it.

I saw the bear- I did well lol

Dennis.... Thank You!

I'll start with this pic after I turned and salted the bear. When the bear came in he had a few issues so I didn't waist any time taking pics.

The bear was caped on Sun and head severed at the neck. Then my butcher folded up the hide around 8 pm Sunday and laid it on the floor. BIG mistake. Bear hides insulate and hold heat so well that when I picked up the bear hide on Monday at 9 am, the hide had begun to spoil.

Dennis says Bear hides need to be stretched out on a line to provide even cooling, as spoilage can occur within an hour.

Thanks Dennis you have a much better camera than I lol

I'm now ready to test fit and do any alterations to the form. It is rare that a bear will fit without altering the form.

After I test fit the bear I needed to add to the form. I also wanted to turn the bear in the opposite direction then the original pose to put the bad spots on the back side of the bear.

In this pic I cut the form down the back and added to the girth.

So you never want to fold a bear hide? When you say stretch out on a line..............do you mean like a clothes line? Meaning hang it up so the cool air can get to it to cool it down?

Bill v

The morning after Dale got this bear, I was in the stand, just replaying the event (from my perspective),tears came and went. I was in awe of this "sign from above",to such a good person and good group of people. The blessing kept flowing as I took a doe on that morning stand.

I can't wait to see the finished product of your efforts. So interesting.

After I paste him I'll pull the hide up and start adjusting the skin.

Thought I'd add a snippet here lol...

We were on the blood trail. Cory, Perry, MJ and I. About 15 minutes or so in, the trail became wider. It was becoming obvious.

Then while carrying NOTHING but 2 arrows and approaching a thicket. It dawned on me..... what if the bear wasn't dead? ROFL I turned to Perry and Cory to ask: "Hey uhhh... either of you guys carrying?"

Of course they BOTH were, so I happily backed off I only had to out run MJ. lol

I called Perry to come over as I knew he was within a mile or 2 of me.

ROFLMAO..... Perry was to pick up ALL the pizza for the party!! Ya know he had a duty and he didn't want to give up the pizza duty!! I finally coerced him inta coming over without telling him what happened.

He's such a good guy- he didn't want to disappoint me but yet he had to get the pizza!!! I'll never forget his facial expressions right up to and including the conversation where I admitted to killing a bear!

Ok question here. What will the entire mount weigh when completed. How much work is necessary to maintain the hair quality?? I don't have much experience in that!

How cool for that young man to sit in your shop whenever he wants and to help out!

It's in the show room waiting for ya Dale!

Q: how do you fix the bald spots?

Bill v

Was interesting to see how you dealt with the "issues", Dennis. After you fixed it up and painted, you would never know it had those issues. Hey, do you use the "hair in a can" like some of us humans do???!!! ;-)

Hey Dale, I thought you were gonna make it realistic and have it standing over a gut pile?! ;-)

Bill v typed:

"Q: how do you fix the bald spots?"

I now feel like a target ~(8o) lol

But seriously................I think after seeing a thread like this, which documents all of Dennis's hard work and artistry, we all get a better appreciation of what goes into a mount like this! Well worth every penny!

I would just like to point out that my dad was a barber for 40yrs... He showed me all the tricks!lol

Seriously, There are a few ways to fix these issues. After talking with Dale about his options we decided to dye the skin on his bear. I use a flank skin dye and spray the entire bear after he is mounted and dry.

Other options would be to cut out the bad spots and fix the holes. This works best with small areas.

I visited quite a few websites with bears that didn't look real to me. The most common issue I didn't like to see were bears that wore un-natural "smiles" on their faces or human like poses. Probably 5 that looked like Yogi Bear.

I'm no taxidermist but we didn't want a feller that was willing to put out a compromised product. It was Dennis' call, not ours. It is his reputation, his way of earning a living out there for folks to see.

If he thought it to be a bad idea for the full mount then we would have done a rug. He thought he could do the mount with adjustments

If he was comfortable so were we.